Manly Sea Eagles set to sign Jamal Fogarty as Daly Cherry-Evans replacement

Manly are one step closer to landing Jamal Fogarty as their Daly Cherry-Evans replacement, with Canberra unlikely to block the halfback’s move.

The Raiders have until the end of this weekend to take up an option in Fogarty’s contract to extend him until the end of 2026.

But that now appears unlikely to happen, leaving the 31-year-old as a free agent from Monday and able to consider a two-year deal from the Sea Eagles.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart is due to meet with Fogarty’s management while on the Gold Coast next week, where the halfback’s future will be discussed.

It is possible Canberra could re-sign him after those meetings, with a fresh contract rather than an extension of his current one.

But the Raiders have indicated they do not want to stand in Fogarty’s way if he can secure a longer-term two-year deal elsewhere, which they themselves are unlikely to offer.

That would free Fogarty up to partner Brooks at Manly next year, after Cherry-Evans’ public announcement that 2025 would be his last at the Sea Eagles.

Brooks said in Perth on Wednesday he was prepared to be the team’s halfback next year, but was refusing to giving any energy to worrying about 2026 at this point.

“If that’s the case, I feel like I’ll be ready,” Brooks said.

“I’ve played at halfback for pretty much my whole career, so it would be nothing new to me.

“But to be honest, I haven’t really thought about it. That’s next year’s worries. I’ve just been focused on what we can do this year.”

Manly’s other option aside from Fogarty would be to shift Tom Trbojevic to five-eighth, given teen Joey Walsh is still considered a few years away from first grade.

Brooks does believe Trbojevic has the ability to make a fist of the No.6 jersey if required, in a move that would have seen Lehi Hopoate become full-time fullback.

Manly copped a 48-24 hammering at the hands of the Melbourne last week, leaving many to ponder whether the news of Cherry-Evans’ impending departure has unsettled the group.

But Brooks said although Cherry-Evans’ decision came as a surprise, players had moved on and it was just part and parcel of life in the NRL.

“It happens all the time these days in league, so you can kind of become used to it that players come and go,” Brooks said.

“Obviously it’s a bit different with someone like ‘Chez’ that has been at the club for so long, and you would think that he would play his whole career here.

“It came as a bit of a shock at first, but the whole team’s moved on and we’re just focused on this game this weekend.”

Manly forward Haumole Olakau’atu said his relationship with Cherry-Evans hadn’t been affected by the news.

“Nothing’s changed,” said Olakau’atu, who will bring up his 100-game milestone on Saturday.

“Chez is fully committed to his role in Manly. At the end of the day he’s still my teammate, he’s still my friend, and nothing changes.”

Manly sit sixth on the ladder with a 3-2 record ahead of Saturday’s clash with Cronulla, and Olakau’atu would love to send Cherry-Evans off in style with the 2025 NRL crown.

“It would mean a lot to him and his family, and I really hope we could do that for him - hopefully finish on a high note,” Olakau’atu said.